Poor
directions from the skipper, more than the overcast conditions, were the cause
of the slightly delayed start against White Swan Public House CC. A range
of Whalers made season debuts in Richmond Old Deer Park at the expense of
several players who had already fallen foul of the new ruthless selection
policy – Osbourn, Dickenson and Osgood all dropped.
Stuart
Terrell stolled out to open the batting with Will Vanderpump.
Paul Mildon had lost the toss and we had been put
into bat on a pitch barely distinguishable from the rest of the park.
Older Whalers than myself had told me this pitch was the scene of a couple of
heavy defeats in days gone by – could the class of 2006 do any different?
Vanderpump fell early on in his return to Whalers action – an
ill-advised cut at a rising ball saw him caught behind for 2. Terrell was
joined at the wicket by Bayne – wicketkeeper batsman in the mould of Adam
Gilchrist. After a couple of “streaky” early boundaries, he too fell
victim to the vagaries of the wicket and was bowled. Phil Brown came in
at number four – later than planned due to his late arrival. He was
bowled – the backspin off a solid forward-defensive being his downfall.
At 30 for 3, the situation was delicate.
Stuart had been building on
his solid start while wickets fell at the other end. He was joined by
Piers and the recovery began. Seeing off the consistent White Swan
attack, Stuart mixed solid defence and punishment of
the bad ball to construct an excellent 41. 8 boundaries in this knock
including some crunching drives – a brave effort to get forward on the
wicket. Piers set the tone for his 37 with a big early six over deep square. He perished caught in the deep soon after
Stuart – together the pair had put on 60. The Whalers were done by Nelson
as Rich Giles was bowled for 9 – 111 for 6. Geoff hit a thumping boundary
but was bowled soon after. Fortunately dangerous lower-order player Ed Kirkness came up with the goods once again hitting some
cracking fours in a much-needed 28. He was ably supported by the captain,
batting his way to 10 (not out) and no doubt a fine end of season
average. Clippy was saving himself for future
exertions in the field by refusing all singles as he “chased” late runs with
the skipper.
157 – a
good total in the conditions thought the Whalers as we enjoyed an enormous
tea. Even Ed allowed the opposition to share some sandwiches.
Vigorous fielding drills followed.
Khalil opened the bowling down the 45 degree slope.
Bowling accurately but without luck he gave the White Swan opener an
uncomfortable opening over. Geoff took on the upslope and immediately did
some damage in a double wicket maiden. He put the ball in the right place
and let the pitch do the rest – both bowled. Khalil
steamed in for another maiden and the pressure was on. Khalil reaped his rewards in his following over with 2 more
Swans clean bowled. Middle stump was taking a battering. No doubt
some of the oppo were paying their “head in clouds”
fines later. Where was their Whalers-like discipline? By the way –
while I am on the subject, I am sure fines were only 20p before I went
away….25% inflation?!
Meanwhile, Geoff bowled
another beauty to have their dangerous-looking opener neatly caught in the
gully by Piers. The bowler was now so pumped up he even attempted to bowl
while the keeper was at square leg. After another Khalil
wicket, White Swan were 22 for 7. Disgusted by
the poor showing of our opening pair, the skipper brought himself and Clipsham on. More pressure was immediately exerted
when Clippy produced a nice delivery up the hill to
have number 7 caught behind. The skipper laid in a few overs later with yet another clean-bowled. At 48 for
8, the Whalers minds turned to other things – either the potential for 2 hours
of traffic on the way home or they were hypnotised by
Al Dickenson’s laps of the boundary. Either way things slipped for a few overs.
The White Swan skipper,
modestly in at number 10 started stroking the ball around well. He
punished anything loose (and not-so-loose) and the once-distant 158 target was
looking ever closer. Down the road,
MOTM – Geoff (great bowling)
Muppet – Geoff (bowling without keeper)
Stats –
Whalers
157 all out (35 overs). Terrel 41; Morgan 37; Kirkness 28; Mildon 10 n.o.